Rick Soderlund comes from a family of independent business owners and from the time he was a kid he thought he’d be one too. After graduating from the Dunwoody Institute in automotive mechanics he went to work at a suburban automotive repair facility to gain experience and learn the practical demands of running an automotive business.
 
By June of 1989 the plan for his own business was complete, or close enough to lease an old building and hang a sign out front. The place had been a repair shop since the early ‘70’s and had the basics, but it needed cleaning, cosmetic repair, wiring, paint and equipment.
 
The early routine involved distributing flyers to get customers, doing that work by himself and using any time left over nights and weekends improving the shop facilities.
 
Within five years the shop had grown to three bays, three full time employees and a good customer base from around the Stillwater area to begin designing the current building.
 
Rick’s 36 opened the new nine bay facility in September of 1996. The business continued to grow and in July of 2000 Rick and his wife Gail purchased and renovated a 1950’ era two bay shop in Hudson, Wisconsin. The shop is currently owned and maintained in it’s nostalgic appearance by Rick’s son.